Long weekend

As always this early in the season I ride outside when I can. This weekend offered up two days for me to ride outside. A group of 7 of us hit Barry Roubaix on Saturday morning. Temps were in the 20's again, but the sun was out and temps were going to approach 60. Unfortunately, I still had to dress warm....double layer of socks, toe covers, pants, under armor, and wool jersey along with a set of ear warmers and dual layered gloves. Yuk. At any rate, we headed out for 31 miles of torture. Jody, Dwight, Charles, Eric, J.J., Jay and I headed out.

Conditions were awesome. It may sound dumb, but the torture this course dishes out brings a smile to my face. I see the hills and just think "what the hell am I doing". I was feeling pretty good. Our groups kept breaking into fractions of riders stringing out for a mile or so at a time. Dwight and Jay led the charge. Jody and I rode together, then Eric and I, and then solo again. It was musical riders! lol. We plugged on and would regroup at the intersections.

I started to think about the race. How will the pace be? What will the weather be like? What the hell am I doing? I just kept plugging along and looking at the hills. Making mental notes of mileage, what kind of hill, what is to come.....Damn it's windy. I got to the last turn before the pavement ride to the finish and I stopped to make sure the rest of the group was coming. Once they caught up I hit the pedals again for the remaining 5 miles. Pavement....finally. The home stretch where I proved to myself what kind of rider I want to be nearly a year ago. I don't feel like I have the power I had last year, or maybe it is just because I am heavier, but it felt good to get on the pavement and push the pace. The long long climb is just brutal. I feel like I am spinning forever to reach the top. Finally the peak, and time for a descent. Just a week ago this descent was pretty hairy. Blinding snow made the descent seem short, but the sun on Saturday was making it just awesome. I flew up to the stop sign, rolled the intersection and powered to the Long Lake Outdoor center to finish. Just over 3 hours. Not super fast, but faster than last week. I was left hopeful that I can eclipse my time from last year and make a nearly 10 minute improvement.

Sunday temps were supposed to be in the 60's and I could not pass up another opportunity to ride. Dan and I got to Yankee Springs around 11 and headed down the warm up loop to wait for the rest of the group. It felt pretty good to be riding in shorts....considering how many layers I had on just 24 hours earlier. When we got back to the trail head Paul, Summer and Jody were there getting ready. Off we went! I was feeling okay but I could tell I was riding sloppy. I was bouncing around and barely staying on the trail for the simple fact that I was worn out from riding Saturday. I was feeling okay until the trench climb. Legs just went....blah. I just dropped into granny and spun until I got to the top. I will keep riding....but I am gonna be slow. The group was waiting for me...and off we went yet again.

The rest of the ride was brutal. Legs had no umph. What I did do was tell them to shut up and keep going. I only missed two climbs...and it wasn't by very much....one of them was because of sloppy handling skills. When the mat climb presented itself Dan said "go" and even though I was 100% ready to throw in the towel and walk, I rode up that damn hill for only about the 4th time ever. Made it. Now can I stop? Nope...still 5 miles to go.

I finished by myself. Back of the pack. Done. 13 more miles. Today was a rest day...thankfully. I am feeling it from two days of hard riding. I will be stronger tomorrow. I am stronger today. I told my legs they were dumb pistons...and they were not allowed to stop.....I overpowered my legs with my mind. One more step on the long road that I am on. Slowly....but surely....I will get there......

Weakness leaving the body....

It is said that weakness is pain leaving the body. After my ride on Saturday morning I have determined that I must have a lot of weakness in my body.....but I got rid of about three hours of it. Jay B., Dan S. and I headed out to get some Barry Roubaix training Saturday morning. A high wind advisory ended at 7am, but it was still super windy. Temps were in the low 30's and snow was in the forecast.

I got to the meeting spot at 7:50 and Jay was already there. It has snowed some, but the roads were not slippery. The wind was making the trees sway and make eerie sounds. Once we got started I thought I was having issues with my bike, but it was just the trees making strange noises.

The ride started innocently enough....pavement for a few miles. The problem is....there is not really any flat ground on the Barry course. Either rolling hills or BIG hills. After about 5 miles I was still not feeling warmed up so I stopped at the top of a hill. Jay and Dan were out of sight over the next hill, but I had to try to get my heart rate under control. I stopped, took a gel, and gained some composure back. I was hurting 5 miles into a 30 mile ride. Legs were just heavy. Not really hurting.....just felt like I had no energy. Press on.

The snow was falling off and on for the next two hours. It would fall heavier when the wind would get really blowing, but it wasn't terrible....until later. I soldiered on. Long climb, steep climb, long climb, long climb. Legs wanting to quit after every pedal stroke. I started to feel a twinge in my left knee....on the back of the leg. As the title of this post state....I considered it to be weakness leaving the body. Pressing onward and upward I was feeling better. The middle part of the ride was not too bad. I just rode my pace and figured I would catch Dan and Jay whenever they needed a rest. I would see their blinky lights off and on....then nothing for periods of time.

The ground was mostly frozen, but there were those times where it felt like someone threw out an anchor. The ground would be just soft enough to grab the tires. It felt like we were riding through pudding, or peanut butter. Blah. On one stretch I realized I was approaching my little donkey friend. Last year on a training ride I was with Jon and said "what are you looking at....jackass" when we passed this farm that has a little donkey. Very funny at the time.....but I think it was a "you had to be there" moment. Anyway, in the snow this little guy looked so sad. He was just standing there looking at me with a sad face......kinda like Eeyore. I just couldn't call him a jackass....but I nodded hello to him.

The last few miles were awful. Strangely enough....it was kinda fun too. This stretch of pavement has a few long climbs and a few medium climbs. Tough enough on their own...but then add in a huge headwind and blinding snow.....weakness has no place here. I was climbing the longest hill out there....out of gas....in a blizzard. It was snowing so hard that I could not see Jay and Dan's tracks anymore....and they were only a few minutes ahead of me. I had the thought about weakness at this very moment. I was slogging up a climb, blinding snow, trying to get my glasses back on. By the time I got to the top of the hill I had snow built up on my arms and bike. It was like riding slow enough to get bitten by a mosquito......slow. The thing is....I kept going.

I may be fat. I may be slow. But I was out there Saturday in terrible conditions doing what I love. Just ride man. I had a lot of weakness leave my body Saturday.....but there is still some in there. Eventually I will get rid of as much of it as I can. The problem is......it doesn't get any easier.......I just go faster.......

Good and faithful moron

I don't like to talk about work on here....but this was one I could not avoid....because it was related to cycling. I work with a guy that is a constant one-upper. It doesn't matter what anyone has seen or done....this guy has either done something more impressive....or knows someone that has done something more impressive.

As the story goes...I was talking to another co-worker about the Iceman Cometh mountain bike race. This other guy pipes in with "I have a really nice bike". My reply was cool man, and I carried on with my other conversation. Within a few minutes he couldn't help himself and was interrupting yet again with "my bike is top of the line dude!" with some authority! So....instantly.....I thought of the scene in the Matrix when Morpheus offers Neo the blue pill or the red pill.

I thought of this because....well....I know quite a bit about cycling and cycling related things. I possibly act like I know more than I really do....but I also ask a ton of questions. Borderline annoying? Fully annoying is more likely. Anyway, because he said he had "top of the line" and I know how deep the rabbit hole goes I asked him the simple question of "what do you ride?"  He looked stumped for a second. It was almost as if I had asked him to explain quantum mechanics. "Specialized" was finally muttered from his lips. It was like he was racking his brain trying to figure out a cool bike company and he happened to land on Specialized. So then he asked me what I ride and I responded quickly with "Specialized Epic". JACKASS ALERT: Here is how the conversation went...

"Epic? what is that like a low end model?"

     me: No it is actually one of their higher models...

him: but my Stumpjumper is their top bike...for sure

(in my mind I am thinking...really dude.....like 10 years ago the stumpy was their top of the line bike)

me: Well...a Sworks Epic Carbon would be their top of the line nowadays

him: (not knowing that I am an avid cyclist) How do you know that?

coworker: Sean rides a ton dude.....he knows what he is talking about

him: oh really?

me: yeah....I was just talking about racing remember?

So....as the months have worn on he makes a comment now and then about riding again. I always tell him to grab his bike and I will take him out. No problem. He has never accepted....or even acted remotely interested.

A few weeks ago....lol.....he recieved the button below.

A co-worker was talking about how he was sore from running on the tread mill and of course this other guy pipes in with....I could run.....yada yada. And the....he throws down the gauntlet and says "I am even going to dust off my bike and show Sean how to ride". I just smiled at him and said "whenever you are ready dude" and he immediately started saying he was kidding. I wish he would get his bike out.....so I could show him how its done. I might not be the fastest person but I know my strengths and weakness are stronger and less weak than his.

Somewhere....a village is missing it's idiot.....

(Barry Roubaix in 31 days)

Yankee Springs in February...

I have ridden Yankee Springs twice already this year. A couple of weeks ago conditions were great. Saturday, the conditions were very odd. Temps were in the low 30's when we started. I was joined by Dan S., Dan T., Dave W., Jay B. and Lisa P. for a loop. The group headed down the warm-up loop when I stepped into the bathroom so I was talking to Dave for a minute while he was getting ready. Knowing I was the weakest link I started down the trail. I enjoy riding in a group....but I do like the confinement of a solitary ride.

I knew the rest of the group would catch me eventually so I just rode my pace. The trail was frozen for the most part. There were some sections of icy covered snow. One place actually had some mud...which I found extremely odd for Yankee. It was interesting to be flying down a descent and hit the frozen sections not knowing if your tires would hold your line. Back to the ride....

I made it a few miles before I finally saw Dan S. coming down the trail. When I saw him....I knew it was only a matter of time before I got caught....but I wanted to see how long I could stay ahead of him. It wasn't long until I reached one of the long climbs and could hear him coming up the hill behind me. He caught me...and disappeared shortly thereafter. I didn't want to chase him because I knew I would blow up and struggle the rest of the ride.

Jay caught me a while later. He stuck with me for the rest of the ride. The mat climb was the highlight of the ride. Jay rode ahead and then came back down the hill to lend me a boost.....but I really didn't want one. I was stalling, but I screamed "I GOT IT.....I GOT IT" and was able to make it without the help. Toughest climb out there....and I am really happy I made it.

And speaking of hills.....I made every climb out there for the first time.....ever. Yeah....kinda dumb, but I have been riding there for years and that is the first time I remember ever clearing every hill on one ride. That is a huge accomplishment for me this early in the season. I know the race season is only a few weeks away and I need to keep some focus. A ride like this one when I make the entire loop without missing a hill is just what I need to motivate me to lose more weight and gain some speed.

Now....the sun is shining.....might have to go ride....

Handling setbacks

Many people will have setbacks in their lives....whether training, emotional, or physical. Last July I had a setback that cost me half a years worth of riding. My knee was perpetually sore and it hurt to even pedal. I finally broke down and went to the doctor to find out that I had tendinitis and all I had to so was stretch. Problem solved....back on the bike. The setback was hard though, because I was feeling very good before my knee flared up. I had just ridden my first century and had my weight under control and heading in the right direction. The problem I had was mental. We had a very difficult last quarter in 2011, and riding is my release from stress. When I wasn't riding, or doing anything for that matter, I could feel my stress building higher and higher. What would appear to be a minor setback was causing more and more stress without offering any release of that stress. In January I got back on the bike and started to spin. A easy week followed by a more difficult week. Knee feeling great. Setback over.....time to proceed and build the strength and endurance back up.

Now I am experiencing another setback. After my ride on Sunday my hand was really swollen. So much in fact that it didn't look like it belonged on my body. I would describe it as a large version of a chubby toddler's hand.  Seeing this before while doing flooring I figured the swelling would away in a few days. The swelling has gone down, but the pain seems to be increasing.

Setback.

The bike clearly makes it worse. I have made a doctors appointment and will get it checked out. I am hoping it is just inflammation and not a fracture or anything like that. Just aggravating that I want to be on the bike plugging away at base miles and the handlebars put pressure on the spots that hurt. I know the bike didn't cause the inflammation, but the bike encourages the swelling.

So, another setback for me. Instantly I want to think the worst and throw in the towel. My initial thought was "what if my hand is broken and I need a cast?" I could be off the bike for weeks. Second thought "I will never be able to be ready for Barry Roubaix if I cannot train". And if I miss BR then Yankee is only a few weeks later.......then Custer....and the snowball grows rapidly.

What I need to remember is that I don't know what is even wrong with my hand...but I will find out soon. I also know that setbacks happen.....but I wonder how many punches I can take. I am getting beat up and my cycling is taking the brunt of the blows. The sport I love. The sport that my son and I do together. The sport that my family comes to watch and cheer us on. So....how many punches can I take?

The answer is.....all of them.

First Barry Roubaix of 2012

"what the f---" are we thinking was the consensus between Dan and I today. The temps were in the low 20's when we got out of the truck. It was going to be Dan and I on the Barry ride, and Mark B. was there too. He ended up turning back for something and we never saw him again.

Barry Roubaix is tough enough when the roads are clear....but when we have about 6 inches of snow on the roads.....Barry Roubaix is brutal. The pavement was a combination of hard packed snow and ice with some softer fluff on the outer edges. This is where I stuck for the most part while Dan took advantage of his studded tires and rode the rock hard pack. The gravel roads were all a mixture....some soft....some barely driven on, all tough.

The ride was going okay. The climbs hurt like usual...and I was just churning away to get up the small and big climbs. Questioning our decision was easy.....riding in conditions like that suck. We were 4 miles in and it felt like we had ridden 20. When we got to the decision maker spot...either 25 or 35 we opted for the short course. My comment was "I have no desire to be out here for 4 hours". At this point we were about 9 miles in....and over an hour. We took the short loop...and headed back....with about 10 miles to go.

The hills still sucked....the snow was still loose in spots....sticky in others. My Panaracer tires were a good match to the snow...but there were a few times when they would grip the sides and try to take me down. Never fell....but there were some moments.

So....yeah...I rode in the snow. Not my favorite thing to do. Stupid even. But you know....I was having fun. It felt good to be outside and just riding....with no timeline. I was even enjoying it....might have smiled once or twice.

Good day.

First Singletrack of 2012

This past Sunday was going to be excellent weather. Highs approaching 40. I packed up all my junk and headed to Yankee Springs to meet up with some friends for a loop. The tentative plan was to ride a lap of Yankee, then a short course Barry Roubaix. In theory it sounded like a plan.....in reality....well.....not so much.

When we started it was about 25 degrees or so. It was Jay, Tompkins, Stewie, Summer, J. J., Charles and I in our group. Off we went. Right away.....I got dumped out the back but Dan S. stuck with me because he was on his Surly Moonlander. That bike is like a tank...but another story none the less. I knew it was going to be rough, but the cold air in my lungs was not helping anything. I just rode my pace and figured the rest of the group would be waiting up ahead somewhere.

Even after a decent month on the trainer in January, I am still showing effects of not riding much the second half of 2011. Legs felt like crap.....3 miles in....yippee. I knew I would struggle....but I wasn't going to quit. If it took me 2 days to get around there I was going to finish.

The fun started when Dan and I caught the rest of the group. We regrouped at the bottom of a "trench" climb that is just a sign of what this trail contains in the remaining 7-8 miles. Tompkins was on his SS so the green light was given to him.....in a very amusing and strict sounding "get the ___ moving!"  lol. Even though I was suffering....the fun was just beginning.

I love riding at Yankee because it gives you so many different terrains and difficulties. Roots, rocks, sand, hills, small drops, stumps, log jams, and off camber descents match up with the switchbacks and flowing sections. After regrouping yet again the conversation went downhill.....and I am not sure if my eyes were watering from the 20 degree temps....or from laughing so hard. I won't get into all of the topics.....because it was surely a "you had to be there" moment!

The turn towards the trailhead is always my favorite section of the trail. The beginning of the end is signalled by a steep blast up a mat covered climb. Thankfully Tompkins was standing there to give me a much needed "boost" to get up the hill.....and then an additional "boost" when I about half way up. Thanks Dan!  Made it....then the 4 or so miles back are fun with some still challenging climbs.

Made it. Not going to talk about times....average speeds....number of stops or anything like that. Just know that I am thankful for teammates and friends that are willing to wait up for a slow guy like me. I know what I need to do.....and that is what I am going to do.

"GET THE F--K GOING!"